William emmbtt



(No Model.)

W. "EMMBTTf FEATHERING PADDLE WHEEL.

No. 315,263. Patented Apr. 7, 1885;

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES N. PETERS, Phuln-ulhogmpher. Wnhington n. c

. improved padd1e-wheel.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

WILLIAM EMMETT, or LOGANSPOBT, INDIANA.

FEATHERING PADDLE-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 315,263,

dated April '1, 1885.

Application filed August 8, 1884. (No model.)

Feathering Paddle -Wheel, of which the follow ing is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved paddle-wheel in which the blades automatically adjust themselves in a horizontalposition when leaving the Water.

The invention consists in a paddle-wheel constructed with two end wheels or circular frames, in which a series of longitudinallyslotted shafts are journaled, in each of which shafts a paddle or blade is held to slide transversely to the length of the shaft,which blades are provided with suitable stops and with shoulders on their ends. Below the wheel and at one end of the same a cam-track is arranged for the purpose of tilting the blades, all as will be fully described and set forth hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional elevation of my Fig. 2 is a longitudinal elevation of one of the paddles and the shaft in .which it is held.

The paddle-wheel is constructed with two circular end frames, A,which are mounted on the crank-shaft in the usual manner. Along the rims of the said frames and concentric with them are j ournaled a series of shafts, B, which unitethetwo circular end frames,the said shafts being provided with suitable collars to hold them in the proper position in the end frames. Preferably, the end frames or wheelsA are provided with spokes,and the shafts are journaled in the ends of the spokes. The shafts are provided with longitudinal slots extending almost the entire distance between the'collars,through which slots the blades or paddles G are passed, which paddles may be made of metal or of wood, and. are provided in each end with two shoulders, a, equidistant from the longitudinal edges. From both surfaces of each blade or paddle a series of studs or pins, D, project, which are arranged in rows parallel with the longitudinal central axis of the blades, the

studs being the same distance from the longitudinal edges and being separated transversely a distance equal to about twice the diameter of the shaft B. On the inner surface of each end wheel or frame A two curved cam-tracks,

E, are arranged outside of eachshaft, theadjacent or inner ends of the cams being at the edge of the wheel, and being a sufficient distance from each other to permit the end of the blade to pass in between them. 7 From each spoke of the wheel a stud or stop, F, projects a short distance from each shaft. The said stop can also be arranged in a circular line on the end wheel or frame. A cam-track, G, part of which is horizontal and part of which is inclined downward, projects from the hull of the vessel sufficiently to act on the inner ends of the blades. If desired, a cam-track, G, can be arranged at each end of the wheel, or a reversible cam-track may be provided.

The operation is as follows: If the wheel revolves in the direction of the arrow or, the

blade 0, held in the slot B, uniting the vertical spokes, will stand vertically, and will be supported by the inner lugs D; the lower end of the said blade then strikes the upper end of the beveled part of the cam-track G and is inclined thereby, turning the shaft B,one shoulder, a, of the blade running up one of the in a horizontal position the shoulder a has run off the cam-track E, and the blade hangs vertically in the shaft,.as shown on the left-hand side of Fig. 1. As the spokes continue to rise the blade turns the shaft, and finally, when the said spokes stand in a vertical position, the blade will rest against the stop or lug F. The said spoke is shown in the top of Fig. 1.- As the wheel continues to revolve, the blade swings down with its spokes, but does not turn the shaft B. The spokes continue to swing down from a horizontal position into a vertical posicam-tracks B. At the time that the spoke is tion, and the blade G gradually slides through the shaft B and off the lug or stop F; During the last fifth of the revolution the blades vproject beyond the edges of the end wheels at This paddle-wheel operates in either direction. If desired, blades arranged and constructed in the manner described can also be connected with endless chains passing over drums. It will be observed that the two edges of the blades are projected from the frames or wheels A alternately. Only the lower paddles offer resistance to the water; but the upper paddles can swing under the pressure of the water against them, and thus my improved paddlewheel can be operated with the same power whethersubmerged more or less.

Having thus described rnyinvention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A paddle -wheel constructed with two end wheels or circular frames,"in which a series of shafts are journaled at the rims, and blades or paddles held in longitudinal slots in the said shafts, substantially as herein shown and described.

j 2. In a paddle-wheel, the combinatiomwith ,two end wheels or circular frames, of a series of longitudinally-slotted shafts journaled in the said wheels, and paddles or blades held in the slots of the shafts and provided with stopson each side of the shaft, substantially as herein shown and described.

i 3. In a paddle-whcel,the combination, with two end wheels or circular frames, oflongitudinally-slotted shafts journaled in the end wheels, blades held in the slotted shafts, stops .or studson the surfaces of the said blades, and cams on the inner surfaces of the end wheels or frames at each shaft,substantially as herein shown and described.

4. In a paddle-wheel, the combination, with the end wheels or circular frames, A, of the longitudinally-slotted shafts B,jo11rnaled in the same, the lugs or studs F on the wheels, the blades 0, held in the slotted shafts and provided with the projections or lugs D, and the cams E, secured on the inner surfaces of the end wheels at the shafts, substantially as herein shown and described.

5. In a paddle-wheel,the cornbination,with the end wheels or circular frames,A, of the slotted shafts B in the same, the paddles or blades 0, held in the slotted shafts B and provided with shoulders (6, stops or studs on the said blades, and cams E, secured on the inncr surfaces of the end wheels at the shafts, substantially as herein shown and described.

6. In a paddlewh'eehthe combinatiomwith the end wheels orfraines, slotted shafts journaled in the wheels, blades or paddles held in the slotted shafts to slide transversely to the longitudinal axis of the of longitudinallysaid shafts, and a cam-track held below the wheel and adapted to act on the blades to tilt the same, substantially as herein shown and described.

VILLIAM EMMETT.

YVitnesses: I

OSCAR F. GUNZ,

O. SEDGWIOK. 

